Different Places, Different Recreation? Comparing Recreational Patterns Between Urban and Leisure Agricultural Parks and Examining Restorative Perception in Leisure Agricultural Parks

Restorative environment research has primarily focused on conventional green spaces such as urban parks, while the restorative potential of leisure agricultural parks and their distinct human–environment restoration patterns compared with urban parks remain insufficiently understood. This study compares visitors’ recreational patterns between urban parks and leisure agricultural parks and examines how visiting behaviors and activity engagement are associated with restorative perception in leisure agricultural parks. Based on 322 valid questionnaires from respondents with experiences in both types of green spaces, paired comparison analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were employed. The results revealed distinct recreational patterns between the two green space types. Urban parks showed higher accessibility and visiting frequency, representing convenient and frequent daily use, whereas leisure agricultural parks were characterized by longer stays and greater activity engagement, reflecting destination-based recreation. In leisure agricultural parks, accessibility and visiting frequency were mainly associated with restorative perception indirectly through duration of stay. Moreover, attentional concentration showed the strongest positive association with restorative perception, while activity intensity was negatively associated with restorative perception. The findings reveal differences in recreational patterns between the two park types and further identify pathways associated with restorative perception in leisure agricultural parks, providing a reference for local authorities and local communities to optimize visitors’ stay processes, activity organization, and environmental experiences in response to health-oriented needs.